Before he reminded Miguel Cabrera that he throws a fastball, this was the sight of Sergio Romo’s greatest moment. His 12-pitch battle with Jay Bruce, the pitches that followed and the celebration that doused the visiting clubhouse at Great American Ball Park. The memories flooded back when Romo walked into the room this week, occupying the same corner where he crouched and wept tears of joy.

“There’s where I was spraying champagne,” he said, nodding toward one corner. “There’s where so and so fell down.”

We assume so and so is Jeremy Affeldt, not because of his burger history or the kid-catching incident, but because he literally fell down the steps during Game 5 when a Gregor Blanco foul ball came screaming into the dugout. Romo wants another shot at that postseason glory, but over the past couple weeks, he was a far cry from the pitcher who stared down Bruce, or froze Cabrera. Romo gave up six runs over seven outings, including three straight from May 20-29. After the latest shaky ninth, manager Bruce Bochy said the coaching staff saw a mechanical bug. Tonight, it looked like it’s been fixed.

“I thought he looked really good today,” Bochy said. “Sometimes you get out of sync a little, and that’s what (Dave Righetti and Mark Gardner) do so well (is fix them). We’re lucky to have those guys. They really complement each other so well.”

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Romo wouldn’t elaborate, or even confirm that anything was wrong. But he looked like his old self in the ninth on Wednesday, getting three quick outs. It’s been a while since reporters talked to Romo, as good a quote as there is in that clubhouse. What does the closer see in this year’s team?

“It has certain qualities that are similar to the previous two (champions),” Romo said. “Obviously everybody cares here. No one wants to be the superstar. It’s all about the team.”

It was pointed out to Romo that outside of the NLDS, the Giants haven’t had much luck in Cincinnati lately. That’s because they’re always facing a good team, Romo said, but it’s again time for others to recognize that a good one is coming to town.

“We let them say, ‘Oh, we’ve got to face those guys,’ ” Romo said.

— Tonight’s random star: Juan Perez, who was 1 for 21 before Bochy called his name. Naturally, he followed the Joaquin Arias path and had two hits, including a go-ahead homer. The game story is Juan-heavy, and includes a great quote from Tony Cingrani.

— Ryan Vogelsong looked headed for Hamilton Hell, but he regrouped after a throwing error, confident that his times to the plate were quick enough to keep Hamilton from repeating Tuesday night. “Vogey just did a great job, I thought,” Bochy said. “He has a quick slide step and does a good job holding runners and giving his catcher a chance.”

“I was trying to be extra-quick tonight,” Vogelsong said.

He was helped by Hamilton’s brashness. Last night, the rookie said that he thought he would have been safe at third even if Tim Lincecum had made a good pickoff throw to Joaquin Arias. “It’s fun being fast,” Hamilton said.

True, but you still have to be smart. What are the odds Hamilton scores from second with no outs? Pretty damn close to 100 percent, right? He goes in standing up on a single, even a hard-hit one, and he probably scores on multiple combinations of grounders, fly balls and deep pop-ups. I’m pretty sure Hamilton is going to score from second on a sacrifice fly one of these days. Yet he took off for third, and Buster Posey wasn’t having it. Three straight Reds followed with extra-base hits, but the damage was limited to two runs because Hamilton was too bold.

“It’s amazing how close it was, as quickly as Vogelsong was to the plate,” Bochy said. “That’s how fast he was.”

It’s game-changing speed, but he’ll have to use it in the right spots to change more games.

— Vogelsong set a career-high with nine strikeouts and said his stuff is better than it was last year or at this point of 2012. He always has built his arm up during the season, and he expects a similar surge this year.

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“I feel strong. My body feels good,” he said. “As long as I feel this way, there’s no reason I can’t throw the ball this way.”

— It was a little stunning to look up at the home broadcast here after Posey’s first-inning double and see “Fourth double of the season.” Posey is actually tied for ninth on the roster in doubles; his backup, Hector Sanchez has seven and Tyler Colvin has eight in 50 at-bats. Vogelsong has two. In his MVP season, Posey had 39 doubles.

— Reds left-hander Manny Parra uses “Jump Around” as his warm-up music. It’s too bad no Giant can use that one without bringing back bad beard memories. That’s a really great walk-up choice.

— Three hours and 12 minutes for a game that was supposed to be delayed by thunderstorms and a tornado warning? I don’t know who sold their soul to the devil but I’m glad they did. Back early, early tomorrow morning …

Alex confirms that he doesn’t pay attention to DodgerBlue or Real Ketchup , who have been harping on Posey’s doubles count for weeks….

Great, great win. Good games by Perez, Vogey, Machi, Morse, and a few others. This is a very good and strong minded team.

MLBSF

Ryan looks like he should hop on the treadmill to be honest. But you don’t want to mess with a good thing right now.

Vegas Giants Fan

I’m thinking about going to the game tomorrow night. Kickham is pitching and I’d to see him in person. Once the sun goes down it’s not too bad right now. If I do I’ll give a report. Yours was great the other day on Escobar.

MLBSF

Good lord, the D-Backs exploded for a six spot in the 8th. 12-8 isn’t a huge lead at Coors, but the Crockies and the lovable Tool-owitzki will almost be mathematically eliminated if they lose.

Meanwhile, the 240 million Dodgers being one-hit down in L.A.
Too funny

Foothills Ryan

Go for it. That’s what I did the other day. I had a feeling Escobar was pitching and when I confirmed that I just went for it. Heat wave is coming. You may see some balls fly out of yard if you go. Duvall has a swing grooved to launch right now. Snydergaard is scheduled to pitch for 51′s though. That may be worth it right there to see how Grizzlies handle a legit fastball.

Foothills Ryan

No you don’t. Don’t change your underwear.

avwh

He’s saving them for later, when we really need them.

Matthew

Here is what scares me about the Dodgers…what possibly could give them a jolt? We all admit it was Puig and Hanley last year..this year, it could be a strong new manager.
I really think Donnie is getting fired very soon, and a new manager will be in place. I haven’t thought through who it could be…but they need a dramatic change, and that’s the only option .

Please keep Donnie.

Brownie

Works for me

Brownie

16-8 now. What a joke of a team

avwh

Dusty Baker has to be candidate 1A.

It might be that ANY change jump-starts their sorry a$$e$.

Brownie

Please take Dusty so that they fall flat on their faces if they make the PO

MLBSF

LOL what a collapse.
All these people trying to tell me the Rockies were going far this season.
And I said the Rockies will turn into the same Rockies we see every year….a team with no pitching.

And they will NEVER have good pitching because no good pitcher in their right mind will ever agree to call Coors Field their home stadium. It’s ludicrous

Foothills Ryan

They should do something about the outfield logjam by moving Ethier or Kemp. Red Sox could possibly be interested.

MLBSF

Oh be honest Foothills Ryan

DrLefty

The Rox got Goldied.

TheRealKetchUp

Check your facts pal. I didn’t say nothing about Posey.

MLBSF

We all know they are going to go crazy by the trade deadline and try to buy more help. It’s such a mess there though I wouldn’t know where to begin.

Matthew

My bad, Tomato and Vinegar…

MLBSF

Uh-oh I forgot Lefty was here.
Don’t read that Lefty.

ClutchUp

Somebody tell Wilson:
00 is not a number
Its look at me/look at me

Rather have 55 @ his guaranteed $
Then Brother Where Art Thou

Vegas Giants Fan

I’m watching the D-Backs/Rockies game. The D-Backs are leading 16 to 8 in the bottom of the 9th. The Rockies rallied to take the lead but the Rockies bullpen imploded. Tulo left the game. (dehydrated) Game over.

Public_Service_forthe_Ignorati

Hopefully in the playoffs

ClutchUp

How was the view from the Ledge?

DrLefty

You’re kidding, right? He’s always looked skinny as a rail to me, like his uniform’s hanging off him. Then I heard he lost 12 more pounds and took up yoga in the offseason. I bet he eats kale with Hunter, smh. He seems like a very disciplined individual.

MLBSF

LOL @ dehydrated.
He looks as strong as an ox but he has the body of a 75 year old man. I swear.

There is always something wrong with that dude. Now he is dehydrated?
He will be on the DL by the all star game. Believe you me.

ClutchUp

MilbY is commando

ClutchUp

Chone Figgins LOL

MLBSF

I’ll have to look again. I mean he’s not like Pablo used to look. Just seemed a little chunky from the behind shots I saw.

Or maybe his uniform is too big. That could be it.

avwh

That’ll be tough to do, unless the Dodgers send some hefty dinero with them.

These are the amounts still owed to their fabulous OF threesome AFTER this year:

Kemp: $100M, 5 yrs
Ethier: $68M, 4 yrs
Crawford: $61M, 3 yrs

avwh

Dehydrated? In early June? In Denver? What a delicate flower he is.

Foothills Ryan

money no problem for Dodgers or Red Sox. They’ve done this kind of thing before. Worked out well for Sox.

MLBSF

Dee Gordon with LA’s only two hits. Puig representing the tying run right now in the 8th

Foothills Ryan

I hear Cargo’s injury may be serious. Heading downhill pretty fast.

MLBSF

Puig walks and here comes Hanley

Brownie

Was that a strike on ball 4?

avwh

Yeah, it worked out well for the Sox because money was no object to the new Dodgers’ ownership, so the Sox had a ready & willing buyer.

But who are the suckers going to be now for these horribly overpriced contracts??

avwh

You know what they say: if Puig didn’t swing, it COULDN’T have been a strike.

MLBSF

smh

Brownie

Yeah

Foothills Ryan

I would say they could work out something with Kemp. He’s not happy and not performing well in LA. Boston is desperate for outfield production. They could gamble on Kemp finding himself in new surroundings and aided by the green monster.

DrLefty

And he flipped his bat five feet. On a WALK. What an idiotic clown Puig is.

avwh

LOL. So the same two teams will swap bad contracts back the other way now?

I guess in theory, if you played Kemp in LF, the Green Monster greatly limits how bad his D could be.

In the old days, can you imagine how long he’d get away with flipping his bat on a WALK when his team has two hits in 8 innings, and is being shut out?

He’d get one in the earhole until the bat flipping stopped. Period.

Eleuthero

As a team, these guys just have a tremendous will to win and that was precisely what was on display tonight. Vogelsong’s focus never wavered even while the normally reliable fielders had a second bad day in a row. The bullpen the Giants have is just sick. Gutierrez might be a closer on more than a few MLB teams. If Machi isn’t in the ASG he’s being robbed. This game epitomized how they won in 2010 and 2012. Grit. Morse is quickly becoming a lock for the ASG.

Brownie

It’s a bunch of Nancy’s playing these days and lost money

DrLefty

That doesn’t even make sense.

Brownie

He rarely makes sense. You should know this. You have been around longer

Vegas Giants Fan

Last game I went to Jacob de Grom pitched for the 51′s. He was great. He’s doing well for the Mets. He’s pitched into the 7th in 3 of his four starts, the other one he went 6. (0-2, 2.42) WHIP 1.07 and avg against .182 He k’d 11 in his last start. This is the first season I can root for the 51′s. (except when they play Fresno) They were the Dodgers Triple A teams for years. Before that the Padres. Now there the Mets AAA team and their in a different division than Fresno. Tomorrow night is dollar beer night.

MLBSF

omg Brownie just called you old
smh

avwh

If he made sense, he couldn’t be a Dodger announcer.

Brownie

No I didn’t you bum

MLBSF

ok my bad Brownie

Brownie

No way. You can’t be nice to me. Pigs are flying

DrLefty

The Snakes got 12 runs in the last three innings? Is there a stronger word than “imploded”?

Vegas Giants Fan

I didn’t see what happened. I was writing a post when they said he had to leave the game. They mentioned something about cramps and dehydration so that’s what I reported. It may be something more serious.

DrLefty

I never listen to Dodger announcers who aren’t Vin. Usually I just multitask with their game on mute.

DrLefty

Agree on Machi and the ASG. They almost never put non-closers on the team, but he’s just been ridiculously good.

Moooooooooose

While they have taken on a bunch of overpriced players, they haven’t yet waived anyone or paid a chunk of their salary to get rid of them.

Brownie

Hope good Belisario is on the mound

Vegas Giants Fan

It was fun watching, especially after the Rockies rallied to take the lead.

MLBSF

Everyone knows when I say my bad I don’t mean it.

Brownie

I thought I was special and you actually meant it.

MLBSF

LOL. Well that was a lovely memorial service I just witnessed.

Now LA heads to Denver and the Rockies and Dodgers can beat each other up.
Too funny

Brownie

Down go the Dodger – Vince Scully. 2-1. This is a pathetic team right now. I see you Dodgers!!

MLBSF

Nope. But you’re a strong guy and you don’t need me to be nice.

If you were, as someone said, a delicate flower like Tulowitzki, I would pamper you.

ClutchUp

Vince?

Moooooooooose

Scott Van Slyke: “I can’t ground out to second if I don’t swing!”

Surf Maui

The Dodgers really do suck.

South City Jim

I for one am glad the Bums scored a run. Being shutout out by Danks, 6-19 over the past two years, may have accelerated Donnie TT’s demise.

Surf Maui

The downside of the Dodgers playing the Rockies is that one of them has to win. Go Rockies

Brownie

Would that be you? Haha

ClutchUp

They have a new invention….TV

Brownie

My phone. Corrected it

MLBSF

ClutchUp has no idea what auto correct is. He has to be close to 65

ClutchUp

Queenie stirring it up

Brownie

That’s a great point but a loss is a loss. Donnie TT was bemoaning the lack of clubhouse chemistry. He wants out of there immediately and the money along with it

There was a scene there in the 9th inning where Puig was looking over at Kemp and I think he was thinking “man, you suck.”

Brownie

This is far from over. I won’t be comfortable even with a 10-12 game lead.

MLBSF

Giants with an 8 game lead in the National League West on June 4!
Unbelievable (in Kuiper’s voice)

And of course I predicted all of this back in spring training

South City Jim

Absolutely true, but if I wake up tomorrow and hear that Donnie TT has been fired and Dusty has been hired, i’d be a lot more worried than I am now. Dusty would mess it up in the postseason but he would right the ship a lot quicker than Donnie Baseball will.

Brownie

I almost fell of the couch reading that. I wasn’t a member back then but there is none chance that you said it. Guess who’s going to be no 1 in almost every ranking cuz they beat the Vaunted Yankees in NY and took the series? The chokeland A’s. This team gets not respect. Didn’t in 10 and 12 and that’s fine when we win it all again.

DrLefty

Just for fun I switched to the White Sox feed for the bottom of the ninth so I could hear Hawk do his thing. (He did.) The best line, though, was from Steve Stone:

“I think we should carry around some Dodger uniforms and put them on the other team anytime we bring in Belisario. He was unhittable these last two nights.”

Seriously, I watched both saves. Think of the best closer you’ve seen and that was Belisario–throwing gas, painting corners, freezing hitters. Yeah, I think he’s holding a little grudge.

winebaroness27

It’s pretty funny how all the Dodger fans think that firing DM and putting Dusty in as manager will suddenly cure all the issues that they have.

Brownie

Yeah. And it would be a nightmare if they actually got a decent manager

DrLefty

Did you hear the Dodger fans boo Kemp after he made his out?

MLBSF

Your hatred of the Oakland Athletics is admirable and something to aim for.

Also how dare you say there is no chance I predicted it. smh

Brownie

Did you? I really don’t want to go through all of negative posts

winebaroness27

Who would want to manage that ship of fools?
Dusty is older and had a lot of health issues.
Do you really think any of those jerks will listen to anyone??

Brownie

Seriously though, they are a very close second to the Dodgers and the way the Dodgers are not playing, the AAA’s might leapfrog them very quickly

walt kovacs

how effed up you are

MLBSF

Steve Stone. LOL. He is like the rodeo clown trying to save the broadcast with a boob like Ken Harrelson in the booth. And don’t forget, he had the same duty trying to add credibility to the broadcasts with Harry Caray.

He’s a really good color guy. He deserves a medal being stuck working with those two guys.

Brownie

I would like Piggy to be a player/manager. Does that tickle your fancy?

winebaroness27

Love it !!! hee hee

DrLefty

It’s fair to say that none of us predicted the Giants would be leading the West by 8 games on June 4.

I think the optimists among us believed they would have a better year than last year, that the offense would be pretty good, and that the rotation would be better than anyone was giving them credit for. But I doubt anyone would honestly say they thought things would be going THIS well.

Brownie

Don’t the Dodgers usually play them well? I don’t know the nos but Kershaw is usually light out there when he ptches?

walt kovacs

really hope all mlb teams have a moment of silence before tomorrow’s games in memory of zimmer

South City Jim

Yep, you nailed it. Nothing else to add.

MLBSF

Why not? Negative posts are entertaining.
Lefty is right, I didn’t predict this.
I’m actually shocked. Like I was in 2010 and 2012

I didn’t. But our strength is pitching. I was confident. Morse was the wild card and I said it to all my friends. Can’t prove it cuz I wasn’t a member here at the time of the signing. I did say that the money they gave Timmy was absurd and was a marketing tool. Baseball more so than any American sport is about chemistry and they have it in spades. I was watching the Yahoo after game locker report and they were playing 50 cent and they were having fun. Most people here don’t know anything about cricket, but it’s quite the same. The Giants are a very good team with excellent chemistry. That’s they way you win championships in baseball.

MLBSF

They were 5-4 in Denver last year
and 4-6 in L.A.

So 9-10 last year.
Two equally terrible teams going at it

DrLefty

If the White Sox hadn’t kicked the ball around in that one inning in the Kershaw game, they would have swept the Dodgers on the road. In a series where Chris Sale didn’t pitch.

The Dodgers just finished a 10-game homestand vs. 3 teams who were all below .500. They went 4-6 and lost the last two series. Meanwhile the Giants are playing St. Louis and Cincinnati on the road and gaining ground in the standings. Amazing. The Giants really need to keep the foot on the throat with all their upcoming home games.

South City Jim

If they value chemistry so much they shouldn’t have sent Punto, Schumacher and Ellis packing. Those guys were part of the equation.

Brownie

There you go. I will say this over and over again, you are like my brother

Brownie

Punto is junk. They miss Ellis in the worst way. Yuck, an ex AAA

DrLefty

I think Bobby Valentine or Ozzie Guillen would be good choices. Proven winners.

MLBSF

What’s funny is the Dodger radio announcers haven’t once said how many games out the Dodgers are now. All they say is “San Francisco already won.”

It’s like listening to North Korean radio. smh

South City Jim

No doubt about it in my mind. Back in 2011 and 2012 Kemp was juicing and the fact that he’s not now has had a major impact on his vision. He’s simply not recognizing pitches any longer like he used to.

I’ve watched a lot of his ABs this year and he looks awful, just awful. It’s hard to imagine he’s ever going to find himself again as far as he’s sunk. It really is shocking how fast it happened.

Vegas Giants Fan

I wouldn’t want to see Guillen anywhere near that team. He’s the one guy that could turn that mess around in L.A. IMO. How about Charlie Manuel.

South City Jim

One guy can’t hit lefties and the other can’t hit anyone. The interesting thing about the Dodgers, and Mattingley and chemistry, is that whether they keep Mattingley or not, you can be darn sure they’re going to try and buy chemistry before the break…assuming they don’t completely implode. Who they acquire I have no idea. but they’re going to throw more money at this problem. Count on it.

DrLefty

Sheesh, way too many walks for Law, right? Last year he didn’t walk anybody! What happened to him?

Great K/9 numbers for Hall.

DrLefty

They won’t do it, but that team needs a teardown. Addition by subtraction. Dump Kemp and Ethier for whatever you can get; eat salary, just get them gone. You still have Puig, Crawford, and Van Slyke, and you can promote Pederson. Let Hanley walk and actually put together a solid infield defense.

Build the team around the pitching and yes, Puig. Fix the defense. Replace aging divas with young, hungry enthusiastic players. More Dee Gordons and fewer Kemps and Hanleys.

South City Jim

He’s a mess. If I were his hitting coach I would tell him that for 3 or 4 games do nothing but try to hit the ball back up the middle. Right now he’s trying to pull pitches breaking away from him and he’s trying to drive balls to right center that are cutting in on his hands. And if a pitcher can start anything at the knees with sink, even if it’s in the dirt, he’ll swing almost every time.

South City Jim

I agree with all of that except I’d see if I could talk Hanley into playing 3B. But the rest, yeah, right on.

ClutchUp

Wrong Bonus Coverage Vinny said 8 games out

ClutchUp

You said announcers

SurfCity

I remember the other day you said you knew how to fix the Dodgers but weren’t going to day, lol

ClutchUp

Its Dusty Baker

ClutchUp

He’s working out at the YMCA gym

ClutchUp

South City Jim

I agree. Brownie, Winebaroness27 and probably a few others disagree but he wants to manage and I’d give him a shot. Personally though, I hope they extend Donnie.

SurfCity

I remember a lot of people talking about it being a bridge year. A year where the Giants would try to hang on with short-term pitching until their farm pitching matured.

Vegas Giants Fan

Law is have problems with being consistent with his delivery. His delivery isn’t what you would call conventional. Ross Grimsley will get it worked out. Law is still dominating the Eastern League. Hall has had three outings where he’s given up 3 runs. Other than that he’s been perfect. I’m looking forward to both of their second halves of the season. Now if they can get Okert figured out. I’ve heard it’s not mechanical with him. It’s all in his head.

Steven Johnson saved tonight’s game at San Jose. He’s the guy with the 100 MPH fastball and Romo slider. Last year at Augusta he started slowly and came on strong in the second half. David Lee was the one who pointed Johnson out to me.

SurfCity

A fair chance you are right.
But, you must change “its” to “it’s!”

paul in p.v.

In the immortal words of Snorkel: “Who is care?” )

paul in p.v.

“Foot on the throat.” Yes. snorkel

SurfCity

Snorkel=vicious

paul in p.v.

Belisario is nasty. Especially when he’s angry. ;o)

Vegas Giants Fan

Sorry, I thought you were talking about Tolo leaving tonight’s game. I didn’t know Cargo was hurt.

South City Jim

He’s one of the scariest ABs I can imagine, with that 95 mph fastball, the wild hair up his nose, and those thick coke bottle glasses. I’d have both feet in the bucket.

paul in p.v.

You’re pitching Valentine right – would that be a Trojan Horse? gillgian

paul in p.v.

In that case – Snorkel agrees.

SurfCity

yikes

pacman68

It’s a long season folks. Let’s just keep winning. I remember 93 all to well.

Vegas Giants Fan

I was watching the new issue of Inside the Flying Squirrels. I found out why Clayton Blackburn is on the DL. He has a mild Lat strain. He should miss 3 to 4 starts. (He’s missed one so far and will miss another one on Friday.)

‘Foot on the throat’ sound like a great walk up song.

Go Giants.

The Oracle

The Dodgers have backed themselves into a corner with their big contracts. It appears these guys are combining poor performance with bad attitudes, and it’s dragging down the rest of the team. I think they’d be better off getting rid of two of their three under performing outfielders (Crawford, Ethier, Kemp), making Van Slyke a regular and taking a good look at Joc Pederson. Those are expensive contracts, but also sunk costs. It would be addition by subtraction. Shaking things up with a new manager might also help. If you’re running the Dodgers, I don’t know how you can sit around doing nothing while a team with three #1 starters underachieves, but I hope Colletti keeps it up.

Chris

How many game$ back are the Dodger$$$ from the 1$t place Giants? 6? 7? 8?
It’s so nice to simply show the Dodger$$$ who the better team is on the field.

The players didn’t seem to want to wade too deeply into Mattingly’s comments or his pregame thoughts that the team seemed to lack unity. In fact, many of the core players were either not in the room when reporters were allowed in or declined to speak. Matt Kemp wouldn’t talk. Adrian Gonzalez wasn’t in the room for at least 30 minutes. So much for team leadership.
.
.
What a disaster! smh

Eleuthero

We got TWO “wild cards” i.e., the injury-prone Morse and the aging Hudson. What we have is two guys who will be in the All Star Game. Morse’s personality fits right in with the Giants’ team chemistry and Hudson must feel like he’s getting a second life. Their role players, too, light-hitting though they may be, have won many games for them. When everyone is pitching in, and being given a CHANCE to pitch in like Perez tonight, it really creates a great clubhouse ambience.

Eleuthero

I doubt these Giants are doing anything but enjoying being on the field and taking each game seriously. In my opinion, Pence’s value as a morale-booster is inestimable. We already had quite a few gamers on the club like Pagan, Posey, and the pitching staff but Pence’s boyish enthusiasm (which is 100% real) can light up an entire dugout. He’s like the rising tide that lifts all boats.

totalfan62

Not to mention that ‘roid-induced acne face. Ugh. An ugly AB in every way. Thanks for the help this week, dude.

totalfan62

That’s good advice for any hitter in a slump. The biggest hole on the infield is usually right back through the middle. I remember a recent big hit by Pablo, who said he was “just trying to play pepper with the pitcher”. Makes a lot of sense–I hope Kemp doesn’t hear that from McGwire, et. al.

totalfan62

thanks for the early morning LOL!

totalfan62

Wow. You can talk about “sunk costs” and “money is not an issue” all you want, but THAT is serious baggage. Appx $230MM for three underperforming OFs, all of whom are whiners. Ugh.

totalfan62

Great win for our guys. This game could have easily been a loss, but the bullpen held the lead that Morse/Perez gave Vogey. Speaking of Vogey, I’m with Lefty-Love That Guy. So happy for him. One look at that photo above says it all: the determination, the circle change, the intensity–that’s our Vogey! GIANTS!!

http://directionalforces.net George Magalios

This is the funniest thing I read today!

Surf Maui

Dodgers only 6.5 games ahead of the Cubs. which of these two teams will win a Wrold Series first?

dgg

Pac is right: “This was a huge win.” After Tim’s inconsistency and descension into “Hamilton Hell.” (Alex can turn a phrase. Brilliant!)

BALDHEADSLIK1

Shush, not so loud ok! Plz do not awaken the sleeping dog ok!! Just leave the Dodgers alone and please do not replace Mattingly.

BALDHEADSLIK1

Oh my u had to remind me.

BALDHEADSLIK1

Are you listening to the Dodgers via computer? If so what web address is it?Thanks in advance.

DrLefty

Ah, my morning Joe just tastes better when I can read something like that. Thanks. The most outraged comments were by White Sox fans who felt the writer was unfairly dissing their team!

So in the last week we’ve had Kemp and Puig arguing in the dugout, Jansen and Ramirez tangling in the clubhouse, and Ethier and DTT going at it during a game.

Reminds me of how the Giants and Bochy all turned on each other when they hit the skids last year. Oh, wait. That never happened.

DrLefty

I think I’d give the Dodgers $$$$ and the Giants $$. The Dbacks are $. The Astros and the A’s are in cents, not dollar signs.

DrLefty

Remember ’03 instead–the regular season, I mean, not the playoffs.

ClutchUp

Game time right @ the corner dgg! All the pre-weeping and nashing of teeth from the 2-0 deficit made the 3 run rally very special. Romo “called” his own 9th as he shook til he felt comfortable. The 0-0 pitch to Pena was impressive!

They won’t do it. But they should. It’s kind of like the Phillies, who are so bogged down with these huge contracts to aging players that they don’t have many avenues to get better.

The difference is with the Phillies, at least there was some sentimental value to the core–Rollins, Utley, Howard, Ruiz–who had the great years together. So they had trouble letting any of them go. With the Dodgers, most of their players were bought used, and homegrown Kemp and Ethier are two of the biggest problems.

Bapah

It could be that he’s trying to stay on the edges more and/or is getting squeezed a little more this year on K-zone.

ClutchUp

Who is this poster

ClutchUp

Lol!

Foothills Ryan

Draft Day ! They should make a movie about this. Kevin Costner in the lead. Susan Sarandon as a tobacco spittin’ scout. Robert Redford as a beat writer/jewelry vendor. Jonah Hill as a blogger following the draft online…

If the Giants draft a collegiate pitcher, this may make the Giants more willing to move a top pitching prospect in trade.

I thought the same thing. If they get a college pitcher and think he could be in the rotation by 2016, they could trade a younger pitcher or two. Of course, they did draft a college pitcher in the first round in 2012, and…let’s just say he’s no Michael Wacha. And look at Mark Appel. No sure things, even with so-called blue chippers.

ClutchUp

I think it’s “say”

Foothills Ryan

edges theory is solid. I could see Escobar really trying to stay on the edges. But getting the calls and coming in effectively.

Or maybe Bradley Zimmer lands in their lap and they suddenly have a legit outfield prospect. Or they reach for some kid outside of Keith Law’s top 100.

Foothills Ryan

Dons’ Zimmer. Quite a coincidence. It’s in the stars for somebody. I’m with you. He sounds toolsy along the lines of George Springer and Hunter Pence.

ClutchUp

Great family!
Brother converted 3bman to RHP
BOTH brothers from La Jolla
Dad Eric had very little game
BUT BUT mom ran track!
Brother Kyle down w/bad back

Foothills Ryan

Get it done , Sabes!

Bapah

Brilliant, timely, Don’s Zimmer – Brilliant.

Foothills Ryan

careful with the placement of your apostrophe. put it too soon and you may be dealing with a johnson.

DrLefty

Drew Butera seems to have put his finger on the problem:

“Obviously, it’s frustrating,” said catcher Drew Butera. “No one here is happy with what we’re doing, but you can’t put your head down and cry about it. You have to keep grounding it out.”

So is that 4-3, 6-3, or 5-3, or will any one of those work?

http://www.treatsbox.com G-ManFanInCan

Personally Sabes hit two grand salamis with signings of Morse and Hudson. They have been lights out and Morse looks like he is happier than a pig in… well you know. He’s got the biggest grin on his face all the time.

I was a bit worried about this road trip, thought it could slip em up… What happens?
Bochy has a hunch about Perez, puts him in, and he goes up and hits a CLUTCH 2RBI HR. Bochy is amazing how he empowers his players to succeed.

Bum on the mound to take 5 of 7 on the trip. AWESOME! Get er done!

Bapah

As much as the organization needs position players, this draft is so heavy in pitching prospects that I don’t see them taking anything but a pitcher early. Now watch as they take position p[layers, 1-2.

Foothills Ryan

Jesse Foppert was a Don. So was the infamous Scott Cousins. What’s a Don anyways? I guess it’s just a handle for a lord – ‘honorific’, like Don Giovanni.

BALDHEADSLIK1

Yeah ain’t that the truth.

Bapah

Now, here’s a man that is paying attention. Regrettably it won’t matter, but Huzzah, anyway.

BALDHEADSLIK1

Appreciate the Google, Thanks sounds like he might be a player.

Foothills Ryan

did that really come from his lips, or the beat writer’s fingertips?

DrLefty

Don’t forget the game where Morse was a late scratch and Arias was put in the lineup at the last minute…and got three hits and 3 RBIs from the #8 spot.

BALDHEADSLIK1

What brand coffee do you drink Dr? Had to give it up 1 year ago because it was giving me stomach aches and cramps hence the switch to green tea (zen).

DrLefty

It sounds like exactly the kind of malaprop a major league baseball player would say, mixing the “grind it out” idiom with baseball terminology (“ground out”). So I’m gonna guess Butera actually said it.

Bapah

I say, All. With an occasional pop-up.

Bapah

What do you expect from a pitcher?

Bapah

This is pretty lively for a 7:00 AM get together. Finely, I’ll be able to get something done later in the day.

DrLefty

Belisario’s six outs the last two nights in the ninth inning:

4-3, 4-3, 4-3, 4-3, called K, 4-3

DrLefty

LOL. I’d say a belly-itcher.

BALDHEADSLIK1

That’s funny

DrLefty

Breakfast with the Giants, baby. If it weren’t a work day, I’d be mixing Bloody Marys.

The Oracle

Vin Scully may have slipped a little when it comes to the play-by-play, but he was still at the top of his game when it came to remembering Don Zimmer:

The Cubs’ story is classic Vinnie. Not a bad hint as to Zim’s awareness on the field, either.

Foothills Ryan

Dear Oracle…

The Oracle

Sergio Romo always sounds like he’s a little high.

Bapah

Is that criticism or envy?

The Oracle

Neither. Just an observation.

Bapah

In reality, I think dgg ought to write a script for Timmeh for ∂9-THC. I think it would fix his anxiety issues when starting.

(Sorry, couldn’t find a capital delta.)

The Oracle

I’m sure he has his card.

Bapah

Ooooh, great idea. I’m out of woorsturshirshier sauce, though. I always forget to buy it since it won’t fit on my shopping list.

Peter Johnson

He wishes, Steve Kemp had some very good to great years with Tigers, I collected baseball cards then, he was a very good hitter.

DrLefty

I always write “W’shire sauce”

Bapah

That’s why you teach and I don’t.

DrLefty

Only French Roast, and I buy either Peets or Starbucks at the grocery store, depending which is on sale. Sorry about your stomach. I’d hate it if I had to give up coffee. I’ve tried to make myself like green tea because I know it’s so good for you, but I just can’t stand the taste.

“On Tuesday night, the superstars who hit for the Los Angeles Dodgers managed to score one run in six innings against a pitcher named Hector Noesi, who is working on his third team this season, the Chicago White Sox, and had lost his previous 14 decisions in the major leagues.”

avwh

High-def TV makes him one of the ugliest pitchers in baseball, for certain.